Healthcare outsourcing sector growing, says group

The Healthcare Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines (Himoap) is ramping up the capacity of local talent to meet the growing demand for healthcare outsourcing services.

This move is in recognition of the “immense potential” of the local healthcare information management (HIM) sector, which is expected to grow to a $1-billion industry employing 100,000 Filipinos by 2016.

“The Philippines’ competitive advantage in the growing healthcare outsourcing sector is built on the availability of talent pool, strong cultural affinity with the United States, and medical know-how that leads to good customer interaction skills and efficient delivery of niche services,” said Himoap president Josefina Lauchangco in a recent briefing.

As of end 2012, the sector recorded the largest increase in employment in the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry, with 45,000 full-time employees. Revenues from HIM also surged by 66 percent to $460 million in 2012 from the previous year’s level.

Himoap said in a statement that the growth in the HIM sector was mainly driven by the rising demand for integrated healthcare systems; increasing pressure to cut healthcare costs; rise in aging population that entails demand for medical care especially in developed countries; and the high incidence of chronic diseases.